'CATALIST': Obama's Database for Fundamentally Transforming America

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P J Media: 'CATALIST': Obama's Database for Fundamentally Transforming America

J. CHRISTIAN ADAMS, PJMEDIA.COM

The Democrats and the institutional left have a new political tool that allows them virtually to ignore moderates yet still win elections. This tool, the Catalist database, was employed in the 2012 election. That election defied conventional wisdom: Mitt Romney sought and won independent voters overwhelmingly, but still lost. If you wondered why the conventional wisdom about independents and moderates didn't seem so wise in 2012, the answer is Catalist. Beyond winning elections, Catalist also allows the Democrats to turn the policy narrative upside down and suffer no political consequence for implementing radical policies which appeal to their base. The Obama administration's lurch to the far left without consequence can be understood by understanding Catalist. Obama thrives politically by satisfying his base. Simply, Catalist is a game changer not just for politics, but for policy. It is the left's machinery for fundamentally transforming America. And candidates, organizations, strategists, and consultants who do not understand what they are up against in Catalist risk being overrun. No longer are Democrats anchored to the preferences of Americans in the middle. Bill Clinton's triangulation is as obsolete as color film and bag phones. Obama has pushed policies far outside the mainstream, and even far outside popular will, but succeeded in wringing out an Electoral College majority in 2012 because of Catalist.